Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 29: A Sarpanch escaped bid on his life while his brother was fired upon by militants last night in a village in South Kashmir district of Shopian.
Residents said that two militants intercepted Sarpanch Mohammad Yaqoob Malla son of Ghulam Ahmad Malla of Pahalpora Shopian when he was coming out of a nearby Masjid after offering night prayers.
Yaqoob was accompanied by his younger brother Muhammad Rafi Malla, who had an argument with militants resulting in a scuffle during which Yaqoob fled towards his house.
The militants fired three shots at Rafi during the scuffle injuring his hip and hand. Leaving him in a pool of blood, militants escaped from the spot taking cover of the darkness.
Hearing firing shots, nearby residents immediately rushed to the spot and took him to local hospital from where he was referred to SMHS, hospital, Srinagar for treatment. His condition is stated to be out of danger.
Police said the militants involved in the attack have been identified as Inam-ul-Haq Malla alias Waseem son of Muhammad Iqbal Malla resident of Pahalpora and Irshad Ahmad Sheikh son of Bashir Ahmad resident of Haripora. A massive hunt has been launched to nab the militants.
It may be mentioned here that the militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba over the months targeted the Sarpanchs and Panchs in South Kashmir districts of Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama forcing scores of them to resign. They also threatened these elected members of Panchayats through posters that appeared in several areas of these districts.
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